After trudging their way through a series of injuries and team wide illness, the Osoyoos Coyotes are finally healthy and it’s beginning to show as they head toward the Christmas break.
A beautiful Ethan McKinley tip-in goal with just over eight minutes remaining gave the Coyotes a 4-3 victory over North Okanagan, Wednesday night in Armstrong.
Jack Henderson, as well as Payton McDonald-Corea and Coletyn Boyarski, both on the powerplay, also scored for Osoyoos. Carter Yarish had three helpers, which pull him into a first place tie in the KIJHL scoring race with 15 goals and 33 assists for 48 points in just 23 games.
It was 2-2 after the first, with the Coyotes leading 3-2 entering the third. The Knights tied the game 3-3, before McKinley’s hand-eye heroics.
Kenny Gerow picked up the win in net. Osoyoos outshot North Okanagan 44-38.
The important two points within the Bill Ohlhausen Division move the second place (15-7-3-0) Coyotes four points ahead of the Knights, while still holding a pair of games in-hand.
Osoyoos travels to Castlegar on Friday night (Dec. 16th) and Nelson Saturday night (Dec.17th), before the players head home for the holidays.
